Over run with ants

[Chickadee55]

My 3 yr. old grandson is very allergic to ant bites so I use to scan the property for ant beds and put poison bait out for the little stingers. However, I don't want to end up poisoning my chickens since they free range sometimes. Someone once told me to put out uncooked rice, the ants would eat it and die. Now my question is; won't it have the same affect on birds??

 

[MusketeerinFla]

Do chickens eat ants? Dumb question, I know, but I assumed they would. If I see an ant mound, I put a container around it , usually a coffee can, and fill the container with boiling water. MiF

 

[Chickadee55]

I was hoping that chickens would eat ants when I got them but they don't. I understand that a food that "swells'' will kill the ants but I'm concerned that it might do the same to my chickens. I'm going to try you suggestion with the coffee can. Any and all suggestions welcome.

 

[Nicole01]

I got rid of my ants with DE and Sevin inside the run.

Inside our house we use Terro and unfortunately we spray the ant hills with pesticide outside. We keep the animals inside until a good rain or we water our grass really well for a day or two. We have a big sandy yard under the grass, so there is a lot of ground to cover.

 

[Chemguy]

Ants will thrive on eating rice, so that isn't likely to work. Rice is a grain, just like wheat is a grain. Nicole's approach should work well for you. Sevin is toxic to insects, but not to chickens.

 

[CorinneP]

Hope you get the pesky buggers !